Niseko Now: Sunday 20th December 2020
- Dec 20, 2020
- 5 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 11cm
Snowfall at base this season 274cm
Posted on Sunday 20th December 2020 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Yikes, it's jolly cold this morning. Like, really, really (really) cold. When I got up the thermometer outside was saying nearly -18C (it has moved a bit since then).
Niseko Annupuri this morning are reporting a temperature of -21C on their peak.
There's 10+cm of lovely fresh snow on the ground. Some cloud around, but a lot of blue sky. It is a beautiful morning and conditions should be very good.
This cold should ease off a bit with some much milder conditions due early week.
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Someone wrote in regarding my comment yesterday about Niseko being quiet and people enjoying that fact, and seemingly making light of it. I really did not mean for that comment to be insensitive in any way, but if it came across that way… please accept my apologies.
I realise that many of you reading this report were wanting to visit Niseko this season and are unfortunately unable to be here. And of course, I totally feel for you and can only imagine the disappointment.
The point I was trying to make was that Niseko is uncharacteristically quiet for the time of year – for obvious reasons – and because of that, people who are able to actually be here and enjoy the good snow and quieter slopes are getting to enjoy something of a rare experience. Some of those people are locals whose businesses have been adversely affected this year, so it is a good thing that they can get a few hours of happiness in while they can.
Perhaps I should have chosen more careful words yesterday.
The current situation we all find ourselves in with the coronavirus is without doubt an all-round disappointing, frustrating, and annoying one.
SnowJapan posted a general message on this subject about a week ago and it was posted on all the daily Now reports on the site as well as the Blog. We all thought that the best thing to do this season was to try and go ahead with reports as normally as is possible.
We are certainly not intentionally trying to avoid the subject of coronavirus but feel that many of you very probably do not want to be reading about it every day in our snow reports. The general idea is to mention the subject when relevant from time to time, but not make the reports all about it.
I try to keep my reports friendly as well as being informative, and at times also try for a bit of humo(u)r. (That bit might not always work!) In my everyday life I am generally trying to keep myself in a positive state of mind and not get too caught up in the worries of 2020. Just the process of writing these reports to share with the world cheers me up. I think we all need some of that.
I hope that perhaps the reports can be a bit of brightness for other people as well, amongst the gloom. I would like to think that even if you are not able to be here with us this year, you might be following the snow season in Niseko from afar and looking forward to getting here next season.
I will try to keep a good balance with what I write each day, but ask for understanding that I can't feel like I'm treading on eggshells as I write every report.
I hope that seems reasonable to everyone.
For those of you who are here this season...
Let’s make sure we all do the right thing and protect ourselves as well as everyone around us… following advice, keeping distance, face masks, etc. The sooner we get through all this, the sooner we should all be able to get back to ‘normal’.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Benkei cape: NW11m/s, Kamui cape: W5m/s, 1015hPa, 1.3m waves. Kutchan Weather station: -18.6℃, snowpack 88cm, 1017hPa. Hanazono 1000m: -16.2℃, NW8m/s, Hanazono 720m: -12.5℃, WNW5.1m/s, Annupuri1000m: -15℃, 15cm snowfall, good visibility. Goshiki onsen: -16℃, 36cm snowfall, 160cm snowpack, good visibility. Moiwa base: -15℃, 15cm snowfall, 90cm snowpack.
The isobars spaced out and the ocean and mountain conditions are calming down. Looking at the weather transition, observations and data, the snowpack above 800m elevation is now stable and the overall avalanche risk is low. Newly formed cornices are still prone to collapse with small stimulation and could trigger 30cm or shallower surface slab slides. Falling cornices and avalanches can happen suddenly. The snow in the tree under 600m elevation is deep and difficult to stand back up after falling, potentially causing suffocation. Bushes are still thick in lower elevations. Better not go down too far into the gullies.
Do not cross boundary ropes to seek fresh snow and keep out of strictly off limits areas. One track under the rope can make many others follow it and eventually end up in an accident. Please respect the Niseko Rules. Good snow and weather conditions today, but always keep an eye to sudden weather changes. Have a nice day.
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Planned ski area operations: Sunday 20th December 2020
The below information is manually checked each morning and believed to be correct at time of report.
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 200cm (not updated today yet)
- Base: 120cm (not updated today yet)
Ski lifts operating:
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center quad
- Hirafu Gondola
- Holiday Number 1 pair
- King Number 3 quad
- Swinging Monkey
Courses available:
- Family
- Sennoki
- Alpen
- Super (upper area)
- Green
- Furiko
- Kokutai
- Detour for Beginners
- Center
- Shirakaba
- Rinkan (lower part)
- Jumbo
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 160cm (+0cm)
- Base: 110cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Hanazono Number 1 quad
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
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Niseko Annupuri
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (+0cm)
- Base: 100cm (+0cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
Courses available:
- Utopia Course
- Shirakaba Course
- Family Course
- Paradise Course
- Dynamic Course
- Junior Course
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Niseko Village
Part open
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 130cm (+10cm)
- Base: 85cm (+5cm)
Ski lifts operating:
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair
- Banzai Chair
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Night time operations are available in the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri areas from Saturday 19th December 2020 until 7th March 2021.
There is no night skiing in the Niseko HANAZONO area.
Niseko Now 2020-2021 season |
Data as of Sunday 20th December 2020 Total snowfall at base so far 274cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 21 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 32cm (10th November and 15th December) November 2020 snowfall 62cm reported on 6 days December 2020 snowfall 212cm reported on 15 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.